Bulbasaur is a reptilian creature that somewhat resembles a toad or a young dinosaur with a spotted blue-green hide. Its eyes are a bright red, but the most notable feature of this Pokémon is the onion-like bulb on its back. This bulb has a symbiotic relationship with the Pokémon, growing from a seed planted on its back by its mother at birth. Unlike the parasitic {{wp|tochukaso}} mushrooms growing on the back of {{p|Paras}}, which eventually take over its body as it evolves into {{p|Parasect}}, Bulbasaur's bulb shares a symbiotic relationship beneficial for both. This allows Bulbasaur to get an enhanced boost of energy from the sun during the day and the bulb to remain growing and strong at night. The bulb also contains many seeds, from which it draws nutrients.

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Bulbasaur is a reptilian creature that somewhat resembles a toad or a young dinosaur with a spotted blue-green hide. Its eyes are a bright red, but the most notable feature of this Pokémon is the onion-like bulb on its back. This bulb has a symbiotic relationship with the Pokémon: growing from a seed planted on its back by its mother at birth. Unlike the parasitic {{wp|tochukaso}} mushrooms growing on the back of {{p|Paras}}, which eventually take over its body as it evolves into {{p|Parasect}}, Bulbasaur's bulb shares a symbiotic relationship that is beneficial for both. This allows Bulbasaur to get an enhanced boost of energy from the sun during the day and the bulb to remain growing and strong at night. The bulb also contains many seeds from which it draws nutrients.

Though they usually walk on four legs, a Bulbasaur can rise up on its hind legs. When it evolves into Ivysaur, the bulb becomes a larger flower bud.

Though they usually walk on four legs, a Bulbasaur can rise up on its hind legs. When it evolves into Ivysaur, the bulb becomes a larger flower bud.

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Most Bulbasaur are domesticated Pokémon, raised by {{pkmn|breeder}}s to be distributed as starter Pokémon in the Kanto region. Due to this, they are regarded as mostly well-behaved Pokémon. Some consider them to be the easiest Pokémon to start with due to this, as well as the fact that they have a type advantage over the first two [[Gym Leader]]s in Kanto.

Most Bulbasaur are domesticated Pokémon, raised by {{pkmn|breeder}}s to be distributed as starter Pokémon in the Kanto region. Due to this, they are regarded as mostly well-behaved Pokémon. Some consider them to be the easiest Pokémon to start with due to this, as well as the fact that they have a type advantage over the first two [[Gym Leader]]s in Kanto.

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Bulbasaur tend to have a strong loyalty to their friends and {{pkmn|Trainer}}s. In ''[[EP102|The Mystery Menace]]'', for example, a Bulbasaur was abandoned by its Trainer in the sewers of [[Trovitopolis]] and remained there for years, yet was still happy to see him when finally brought out from the sewer by {{Ash}} and his friends.

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Bulbasaur tend to have a strong loyalty to their friends and {{pkmn|Trainer}}s. In ''[[EP102|The Mystery Menace]]'', for example, a Bulbasaur was abandoned by its Trainer in the sewers of [[Trovitopolis]] and remained there for years yet was still happy to see him when finally brought out from the sewer by {{Ash}} and his friends.

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It is shown, in ''[[EP051|Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden]]'', that once annually in Kanto, large groups of Bulbasaur gather in a hidden garden to become {{p|Ivysaur}}. It is unknown whether or not this is the case in other regions.

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It is shown in ''[[EP051|Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden]]'' that once annually in Kanto, large groups of Bulbasaur gather in a hidden garden to become {{p|Ivysaur}}. It is unknown whether or not this is the case in other regions.

Bulbasaur can sometimes be found lying in the sun during the day to photosynthesize energy when food is scarce.

Bulbasaur can sometimes be found lying in the sun during the day to photosynthesize energy when food is scarce.

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===Habitat===

===Habitat===

[[Image:Grassland.gif|right|frame|{{DL|List of Pokémon by habitat|Grassland Pokémon}}]]

[[Image:Grassland.gif|right|frame|{{DL|List of Pokémon by habitat|Grassland Pokémon}}]]

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Bulbasaur are scarce in the wild. Sometimes they can be found in secret places such as gardens, plains near large sources of fresh water, or hiding in the forest in hollow logs, but overall they are found far more often in the ownership of Trainers. It is native to [[Kanto]].

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Bulbasaur are scarce in the wild. Sometimes they can be found in secret places such as gardens, plains near large sources of fresh water, or hiding in the forest in hollow logs, but overall, they are found far more often in the ownership of Trainers. It is native to [[Kanto]].

===Diet===

===Diet===

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====[[May's Venusaur|May's Bulbasaur]]====

====[[May's Venusaur|May's Bulbasaur]]====

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Much later on, when Ash was traveling in the [[Hoenn]] region, his companion {{an|May}} captured her own Bulbasaur after being separated from the group in ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''. It remained with her throughout the rest of her journey in Hoenn, helping her to compete in the [[Hoenn Grand Festival|regional]] [[Grand Festival]]. When she traveled to [[Kanto]] to continue her journey with Ash in ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]'', May too left her Bulbasaur at Professor Oak's lab to learn from Ash's while she and Ash's group traveled throughout the {{ho|Battle Frontier}} in Kanto. May retrieved it during her travels in [[Johto]], where it evolved all the way into a Venusaur.

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Much later on, when Ash was traveling in the [[Hoenn]] region, his companion {{an|May}} captured her own Bulbasaur after being separated from the group in ''[[AG073|Grass Hysteria]]''. It remained with her throughout the rest of her journey in Hoenn, helping her to compete in the [[Hoenn Grand Festival|regional]] [[Grand Festival]]. When she traveled to [[Kanto]] to continue her journey with Ash in ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]'', May, too, left her Bulbasaur at Professor Oak's lab to learn from Ash's while she and Ash's group traveled throughout the {{ho|Battle Frontier}} in Kanto. May retrieved it during her travels in [[Johto]], where it evolved all the way into a Venusaur.

====Other====

====Other====

A Bulbasaur that used to belong to the [[Mayor of Trovitopolis]] appeared in ''[[EP102|The Mystery Menace]]''. In his childhood, the mayor abandoned his Bulbasaur and sent it into the sewers when it wouldn't evolve into {{p|Ivysaur}}. Aided by [[Misty]] and {{Tracey}}, Ash found the abandoned Bulbasaur while searching for his own, which had gone missing. After defeating the arrogant mayor and his personal SWAT team, Ash and company left the Bulbasaur, which had grown rather large in its time in the sewers, with [[Nurse Joy]].

A Bulbasaur that used to belong to the [[Mayor of Trovitopolis]] appeared in ''[[EP102|The Mystery Menace]]''. In his childhood, the mayor abandoned his Bulbasaur and sent it into the sewers when it wouldn't evolve into {{p|Ivysaur}}. Aided by [[Misty]] and {{Tracey}}, Ash found the abandoned Bulbasaur while searching for his own, which had gone missing. After defeating the arrogant mayor and his personal SWAT team, Ash and company left the Bulbasaur, which had grown rather large in its time in the sewers, with [[Nurse Joy]].

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In ''[[SS014|Journey to the Starting Line]]'', {{ka|Gilbert}}, the son of the mayor of [[Pallet Town]], was supposed to start his journey as a [[Pokémon Trainer]] with one of the three Kanto starter Pokémon, but they were scared off by [[Ash's Tauros]]. [[Professor Oak]], {{Tracey}}, {{Delia}} and Gilbert set out to find them. The Bulbasaur was the last one to be found and it was stuck in a tree that was surrounded by a group of {{p|Primeape}}. In the end, Bulbasaur was the one that Gilbert decided to start with.

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In ''[[SS014|Journey to the Starting Line]]'', {{ka|Gilbert}}, the son of the mayor of [[Pallet Town]], was supposed to start his journey as a [[Pokémon Trainer]] with one of the three Kanto starter Pokémon, but they were scared off by [[Ash's Tauros]]. [[Professor Oak]], {{Tracey}}, {{Delia}}, and Gilbert set out to find them. The Bulbasaur was the last one to be found and it was stuck in a tree that was surrounded by a group of {{p|Primeape}}. In the end, Bulbasaur was the one that Gilbert decided to start with.

===Minor appearances===

===Minor appearances===

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==In the manga==

==In the manga==

===In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga===

===In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga===

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[[Ash's Bulbasaur]] appears in the manga [[Electric Tale of Pikachu|The Electric Tale of Pikachu]]. It first appears in the eighth chapter, ''[[ET08|You Gotta Have Friends]]''. Bulbasaur's capture is not shown, it is simply stated when it first appears from its [[Poké Ball]] that "{{Ash}} has been busy since the last comic".

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[[Ash's Bulbasaur]] appears in the manga [[Electric Tale of Pikachu|The Electric Tale of Pikachu]]. It first appears in the eighth chapter, ''[[ET08|You Gotta Have Friends]]''. Bulbasaur's capture is not shown; it is simply stated when it first appears from its [[Poké Ball]] that "{{Ash}} has been busy since the last comic".

In ''[[ET09|I'm Your Venusaur]]'', Ash and Misty travel to a town inhabited by many Bulbasaur, {{p|Ivysaur}} and {{p|Venusaur}}. There is a local legend that a giant Venusaur saved the townsfolk in battle.

In ''[[ET09|I'm Your Venusaur]]'', Ash and Misty travel to a town inhabited by many Bulbasaur, {{p|Ivysaur}} and {{p|Venusaur}}. There is a local legend that a giant Venusaur saved the townsfolk in battle.

Biology

Physiology

Bulbasaur is a reptilian creature that somewhat resembles a toad or a young dinosaur with a spotted blue-green hide. Its eyes are a bright red, but the most notable feature of this Pokémon is the onion-like bulb on its back. This bulb has a symbiotic relationship with the Pokémon: growing from a seed planted on its back by its mother at birth. Unlike the parasitic tochukaso mushrooms growing on the back of Paras, which eventually take over its body as it evolves into Parasect, Bulbasaur's bulb shares a symbiotic relationship that is beneficial for both. This allows Bulbasaur to get an enhanced boost of energy from the sun during the day and the bulb to remain growing and strong at night. The bulb also contains many seeds from which it draws nutrients.

Though they usually walk on four legs, a Bulbasaur can rise up on its hind legs. When it evolves into Ivysaur, the bulb becomes a larger flower bud.

Gender differences

There are no differences in appearance between males and females of this species.

In the anime however, May's Bulbasaur had heart shaped spots on its forehead, which may be an anime-only indication of gender. However, all Bulbasaur may have unique spots on their bodies, regardless of gender.

Special abilities

Bulbasaur have a variety of Grass-type abilities granted to it by the bulb growing on its back. Powders, scents, petals, and seeds can come from the very tip of the bulb, and vines and leaves can come from the base. By manipulating these into moves like Leech Seed, Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Petal Dance, and Sweet Scent, Bulbasaur have quite an arsenal at their disposal.

The bulb can absorb sunlight, allowing Bulbasaur to restore health with Synthesis or fire off a powerful SolarBeam.

Behavior

Most Bulbasaur are domesticated Pokémon, raised by breeders to be distributed as starter Pokémon in the Kanto region. Due to this, they are regarded as mostly well-behaved Pokémon. Some consider them to be the easiest Pokémon to start with due to this, as well as the fact that they have a type advantage over the first two Gym Leaders in Kanto.

Bulbasaur tend to have a strong loyalty to their friends and Trainers. In The Mystery Menace, for example, a Bulbasaur was abandoned by its Trainer in the sewers of Trovitopolis and remained there for years yet was still happy to see him when finally brought out from the sewer by Ash and his friends.

It is shown in Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden that once annually in Kanto, large groups of Bulbasaur gather in a hidden garden to become Ivysaur. It is unknown whether or not this is the case in other regions.

Bulbasaur can sometimes be found lying in the sun during the day to photosynthesize energy when food is scarce.

Habitat

Bulbasaur are scarce in the wild. Sometimes they can be found in secret places such as gardens, plains near large sources of fresh water, or hiding in the forest in hollow logs, but overall, they are found far more often in the ownership of Trainers. It is native to Kanto.

Much later on, when Ash was traveling in the Hoenn region, his companion May captured her own Bulbasaur after being separated from the group in Grass Hysteria. It remained with her throughout the rest of her journey in Hoenn, helping her to compete in the regionalGrand Festival. When she traveled to Kanto to continue her journey with Ash in The Right Place and the Right Mime, May, too, left her Bulbasaur at Professor Oak's lab to learn from Ash's while she and Ash's group traveled throughout the Battle Frontier in Kanto. May retrieved it during her travels in Johto, where it evolved all the way into a Venusaur.

Other

A Bulbasaur that used to belong to the Mayor of Trovitopolis appeared in The Mystery Menace. In his childhood, the mayor abandoned his Bulbasaur and sent it into the sewers when it wouldn't evolve into Ivysaur. Aided by Misty and Tracey, Ash found the abandoned Bulbasaur while searching for his own, which had gone missing. After defeating the arrogant mayor and his personal SWAT team, Ash and company left the Bulbasaur, which had grown rather large in its time in the sewers, with Nurse Joy.

Minor appearances

Bulbasaur was mentioned in the first episode of the anime, Pokémon - I Choose You!, as one of the three starter Pokémon new trainers in Pallet Town can choose from. Ash dreamed of owning one, and it was his second choice of a starter, after Squirtle. However, when he arrived at Oak's lab, it was too late, as an unnamed Trainer who started the same day had already taken it.

Pokédex entries

Bulbasaur, it bears the seed of a plant on its back from birth. The seed slowly develops. Researchers are unsure whether to classify Bulbasaur as a plant or animal. Bulbasaur are extremely calm and are difficult to capture in the wild.

In the TCG

Other appearances

Trophy information

Bulbasaur is a cute Pokémon born with a large seed firmly affixed to its back; the seed grows in size as the Pokémon does. Along with Squirtle and Charmander, Bulbasaur is one of the three Pokémon available at the beginning of Pokémon Red and Blue. It evolves into Ivysaur.

Since in Generation I, the Template:Type2 was super-effective against Template:Type2 Pokémon, Bulbasaur was also the first Pokémon in National Pokédex order with a double weakness (to Bug). Due to Generation II's changes to type effectiveness, this "honor" has since been taken by Charizard, which is doubly weak to Template:Type2 moves.

Bulbasaur and its evolutions share the same species name as Sunkern. They both are known as the Seed Pokémon.

Bulbasaur's number in the National Pokédex and the Fiore Browser is the same: 001. This makes it and its evolution family one of only five families of Pokémon (comprising thirteen Pokémon altogether) to have the same numbers in more than one Pokédex-like listing.

Origin

Bulbasaur appears to be based on some form of Dicynodont, mammal-like reptiles from the Permian period, though it also has features from toads and frogs as well as other reptiles. Its also has visible ears, which are not seen in reptiles but are in mammals. Its bulb resembles that of a lily or onion.

Name origin

Bulbasaur's name is a portmanteau of the words bulb and saur, which is Greek for lizard. Its French name, Bulbizarre, literally means isn't it strange?, and is a pun on 不思議種 fushigidane, mysterious bulb.